May 31, 2009

May 30, 2009

I showcased this animated short 14 months ago, but I just had to show it again.It’s rare to me to find a piece of work in our industry that seems to have true meaning to someone beyond just creative expression. Mathieu Labaye made this stunning animation in honor of his father who struggled with multiple sclerosis.

Be patient through the beginning, it starts a little slow. Definitely read through the translation of the voice over, I’m sure you will find this piece to be much more than just a beautifully executed, tedious, and impressive bit of hand drawn animation. What a great expression of what it means to be free to move, we can only imagine how Mathieu’s father struggled with the desire to feel like this (full of life and motion, wanting to break free from his body) every day of his life.

May 26, 2009

A dedicated superfan creates a fake Green Lantern trailer by editing and splicing together footage from other films. What a great job, obviously a lot of work done here. I wonder if Nathan Fillion was honored to be picked as Hal Jordan for this mock movie clip.

May 23, 2009

We've reached a new level of the Floating Head poster. Not even celebrities anymore. Just some nearly-emotionless robot heads. You can really tell how serious Optimus Prime is about saving pyramids because how the metal around his eyes is shaped. So much emotion in those apostrophe-shaped slits.

Yahoo has put up some new vacation slides from Transformers 2: Egyptian Break, so if you'd like to see two more transforming computoids posing in front of pyramids, here they are.

Shia LaBeouf just got to college, leaving behind his robot friend that turns into a Camaro and his ridiculously hot girlfriend-cum-motorcycle showroom model, and already things are going crazy. A shard of something that fell out of Shia's bag has given him A BEAUTIFUL MIND! And Megatron wants his brain to decode some pots in a pyramid or something! And there's a robot that devours sand like he doesn't even give a shit!

You'd better just see for yourself:

Ha! The casual American flag knock-down at 1:30. "Fuck this." Decepticons are so serious about symbolic gestures. If they have to climb every bridge in this country to swat down every one of our flags, they will do that, because they are the robot terrorists and they do not support our values.Start making your checklists early: Dreamworks/Paramount has released the official list of robo-characters in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. You'll probably notice that Megatron, who has been rumored to return since the moment after his defeat in the first film, is conspicuously absent from the Decepticon line-up, while on the Autobot side, a pants-pooping-themed pair has been added.

July 1, 2011. That's when Variety says the third robo-man-car movie will be released.

A while back Collider managed to get Michael Bay to speak at some length about Transformers 2. Between awkward, joking rants about owning the website and pretending to punch people a few times, he revealed:

- He's shooting the film in IMAX--just like Dark Knight, that Batman movie we all liked!

- The sequel will be darker--just like Dark Knight, that Batman movie we all liked!

- The Transformers will be more emotive this time around. The effects team probably got a new set of Intel microchips and did a virus scan to get more computer power into robot facial expressions. That's my understanding.

- The film is at 2 hours 20 minutes now, but Bay is still editing it down. So basically that means it will be under 2 hours 20 minutes, in case you thought it was going to be like Lawrence of Arabia with an intermission.

- "It's not trying to just be bigger to be bigger." That sentence he was lying about. He's definitely making it bigger to be bigger, and thank god. The only saving grace of another Transformers movie is that it will definitely be bigger. No one is excited about seeing a smaller, more introspective Transformers movie. But yes, it will be bigger.

- Bay will be waiting at least a year if he decided to start on a third chapter of the series. Let's hope my already-deteriorating paper-mâché Optimus Prime head will last until that opening night!

This was the first teaser poster for Transformers 2, and it appears someone is out for revenge. It's that ribbed metal panel with the red eyes that looks like a boss from Contra--he/she is the one out for revenge.

Bay was too distracted by Megan Fox's tits to notice that his characters were reacting to the same offscreen action while looking in two different directions.

TFW2005 has received word that Devastator, the above combination of several construction vehicle robots that form a larger robot, will play a part in Transformers: Rise Revenge of the Fallen. Here are the details:

- Seven construction vehicles merge to form Devastator- Devastator has lots of upper body strength, like a gorilla- Not just green, some of the vehicles are red and yellow

Does he actually look like a gorilla now, or is he just really strong and whoever wrote this said, "You know what else is strong? A gorilla. This thing is like a gorilla." These are the things I wonder.

Also, why haven't we heard about the dinosaur ones being in this? The dinosaur ones are everyone's favorite, because they're dinosaurs.

May 22, 2009

Be a picture director.
Take an extra minute to compose your photograph so that the reason you are taking it is clearly evident. Control your canvas by moving subjects, props, or your angle to add context and see things in a better way.

Subject placement.
To hold the attention of the viewer, give your pictures a bold and dramatic arrangement. Avoid putting your subject directly in the center of the picture unless you are striving for a formal arrangement in which the subject firmly commands attention.

Rule of thirds: In candid pictures of people, it's often wise to follow the traditional rule of thirds. Imagine a pair of lines dividing the picture into thirds horizontally and a second pair dividing it into thirds vertically. Place the most important visual element—usually the face (or eyes in a close-up)—on one of the points where the lines intersect.

Move it from the middle.
One of the most common mistakes of amateur photographers is placing the subject smack dab in the middle of the frame. This makes a picture more static and less interesting. That's why one of the most popular guidelines in photography, painting and cinematography is the Rule of Thirds.
Imagine a tic-tac-toe board over your viewfinder and position the subject along one of the lines or at one of the intersections. If your subject fills most of the frame, position a focal point (like those smoldering eyes) at one of the intersections.
With landscapes, keep the horizon along the lower third to give a feeling of spaciousness. Position the horizon along the upper third to give a feeling of nearness or intimacy.

Open space: When a person moves across your camera's field of view, the final image usually has much more impact when the subject is off-center. Leave the open space in the direction in which the subject is headed. Similarly, if a subject is looking off to the side, it's best to leave more space in that direction.

Focus on the good stuff.
Don't include too much. Extra elements can confuse things. Strengthen your subject by eliminating all unimportant components and background clutter.

What’s that thing behind you?
Before you shoot, take a look around for an uncomplicated backdrop that complements the subject instead of competing with it. Beware of trees or poles sprouting from your subject's head. Even better, find a background that draws the viewer's eye to the most important part of the picture.

Lines that lead.
Lines are everywhere around us. In people, trees, walls, shadows—you just have to look for them. These natural lines can strengthen composition by leading the viewer’s eyes toward your subject. Diagonal lines can add energy. Curved lines can add soft elegance. Using a road or path as a leading line can add depth.

Step into another dimension.
Framing your subject with elements in the foreground can also add scale and depth to pictures. Overhanging tree branches, doorways, anything that covers at least two sides of the photo can give a three-dimensional effect that invites viewers into the image.

Photography is like a circle – There are no right angles.
Experiment with different angles. Eye level is great for a lot of shots. But if you want more from your photos, you have to explore. Get close and fill the frame. Crouch down and shoot up at your subject or shoot along the floor. Get up on a chair or table and shoot from above. Just be careful or you might be icing your ankle while viewing the results.

Watch out for the edge!
If your subject is in motion, give them plenty of space within the frame to move into.

Find your balance.
Off-center subjects can be balanced on the opposite side of the frame with leading lines, shadows, and objects in the foreground or background.
Balance can also be achieved by creating simple geometric shapes. This makes images naturally easier to decipher and more pleasing to the eye. This photo is a good example of subjects creating a triangle, which brings strong balance and unity to the image.

Leave something to the imagination.
Sharp, detailed images are the norm. That's why it can be fun to purposely leave your main subject a little out of focus. Just focus on something in front of or far beyond the subject to create a dream-like effect.

VanArts presents a rare and exciting opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s most talented artists. Join story artist Matthew Luhn and animator Andrew Gordon, both of PIXAR Animation Studios, as they conduct a 2-day Masterclass in Animation and Story Development.

This masterclass is geared toward not only experienced animators, but also students and animation enthusiasts. Skill sets covered are not software-specific, and all lectures are organized with visuals; live-action and animated clips. This event gives you the tools needed to create your own stories and feature-quality animation, plus offers a great opportunity to meet and network with others in the industry.

This special event will be held on the weekend of June 13-14th, 2009 at the renowned Cinematheque Quebecoise in Montreal, Quebec.

COST:$450 CDN for both days. Seating is limited and offered on a first-come basis.

Other crazy and strange ones:How to Avoid Huge ShipsOral Sadism and the Vegetarian PersonalityAttractive and Affectionate Grave DesignBeyond Leaf RakingBombproof your HorseThe Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field IdentificationI Was Tortured By the Pygmy Love QueenHow to Write a How to Write BookAre Women Human? And Other International DialoguesCheese Problems SolvedIf You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your LegsPeople who Mattered in Southend and Beyond: From King Canute to Dr Feelgood

Introducing the FOX-Aniboom Holiday Animation Challenge. Animators are invited to submit a 2-4 minute animated holiday short that fits the "FOX style", of which 5 will be chosen for a $5,000 prize. The grand prize winner will take home an additional $10,000, and a development deal with FOX. They begin accepting submissions on May 27th.

May 15, 2009

With a cast that includes Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, and other guys easily capable of murder, The Expendables is definitely the upcoming movie most being described on the internet as "fucking badass." Thus, for the above first poster for the film, they've wisely shown off the badass, Expendable-themed tattoo one of the characters presumably has.

May 14, 2009

I hope no one here was planning on making old Star Trek look like new Star Trek, because someone has put up a YouTube video called "i made old star trek look like new star trek," and they've pretty successfully done just that. The secret? Lens flares:

May 13, 2009

A man builds a city using holographic tools for the woman he loves.This award winning short was created by filmmaker Bruce Branit, widely known as the co-creator of '405'. World Builder was shot in a single day followed by about 2 years of post production. Branit is the owner of Branit VFX based in Kansas City.

May 11, 2009

In the last little while, there has been a MAJOR backslide in the industry. Poor rates have been an issue for a while but things are becoming worse. Clients' fees are getting even lower and the rights they're demanding are even higher.

You want examples? How about SWATCH calling me and asking me to design a watch. They wanted a complete transfer of copyright for a paltry fee. As if that's going to happen. Google calls me and wants my work for their new search engine all over the web, the fee? Nothing. Editorial clients are slashing 1999's fees almost in half and citing the bad economy as an excuse. You know what? My excuse is that the economy is bad so you have to pay me MORE for an illustration. How's that for an economic stimulus package?

So here's to every client with shitty fees and terms. Do not waste my time or contact me. I am very busy working with clients who respect artists and you're wasting my time with your solicitations. So for you, I give you a special salute that I hope will keep you away because I don't need your work.

Not much different from the animation industry. Broadcasters are flocking to other countries to get their cartoons done for HALF the price compared to what was done two years ago. The quality shows, and it looks piss poor and down right awful, budgets have been reduced due to reduced advertising revenues and the sad state of the economy. Some say there's no signs of it getting better, others say broadcasters 'need content' therefore it will have to turn around sometime. All I know is that I've lost count of all the studios in Canada that have shut down either temporarily or permanently in the last 18 months. When will the Canadian Television system improve?... never, since the broadcasters are satisfied with the crap they get from over-seas Flash studios, all we can hope for is for the producers to wise up and have the urge to trust Canadian studios again. You get what you pay for, and now Canadian studios are forced to adapt, seeking out co-production from Europe and the U.S.

Legendary animation director, Ralph Bakshi discusses how he survived the collapse of theatrical animation and offers tips to current animators for how to succeed in the cartoon business:

If you haven't already heard, Pixar is opening a studio in Vancouver! The news is that they are scouting locations to build a 20,000 square foot mega-studio to have built by this fall. Production there will begin early 2010 and will be focused on their short films program. They will be looking to employ 75 to 100 artists and will be hiring mainly Canadians.

May 05, 2009

Dom DeLuise, actor, comedian, and frequent Win, Lose or Draw contestant, has died at 75:

Dom DeLuise, the mirthful, moon-faced comic actor who was a regular on Dean Martin's television variety show in the 1970s and provided frequent comedic support in movies starring Mel Brooks and Burt Reynolds, has died. He was 75.

DeLuise died in Santa Monica in his sleep Monday night surrounded by family after a long illness, his son, Michael, told KTLA.

"He was a naturally funny man," film critic Leonard Maltin told The Times today. "He didn't need a script to be funny, but smart people like Mel Brooks knew how to give him just the right setting and showcase."

Highlights of Cartoon Network’s new content strategy to launch across the 2009-2010 season include the following:

COMEDY AND ACTION-ADVENTURE ANIMATED SERIES• Adventure Time with Finn and Jake The 30-minute series is from Cartoon Network Studios, created by Pendleton Ward and executive produced by Fred Siebert and Derek Drymon.• Stoked Six teenaged groms (young surfers) come together for 12 weeks over summer to work and surf . From Cake Distribution and Fresh Animation, Stoked is created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis (Total Drama Island).• Total Drama Action Showcasing all the elements of favorite reality TV shows, fourteen contestants face thrilling challenges on an abandoned film studio back-lot, all inspired by the movies. From Cake Distribution and Fresh Animation.• Ben 10: Evolutions An all-new animated series .• Sym-Bionic Titan From creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack) comes an exciting hybrid of high school drama and giant robot battles.• Generator Rex Infected by microscopic molecular-altering nanites, 15-year-old Rex has the ability to grow incredible machines out of his body. From Man of Action, creators of Ben 10.• Scooby-Doo – Mystery, Inc. More Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo.

ALTERNATIVE LIVE-ACTION SERIES• The Othersiders This thrilling reality adventure series follows five friends on real missions to explore mysterious, potentially haunted locations in search of evidence that will confirm or deny the existence of paranormal activity.• Survive This An exciting reality series challenges teenagers ages 14 to 17 to push their limits, overcome fears and develop lifelong survival skills. Hosted by Les Stroud (Survivorman), each episode aims to test endurance, wit and self-determination.• Destroy Build Destroy In a huge construction zone, two teams become demolition experts with the guidance and assistance of experts in the field, using wrecking balls, human destroyers and real explosions. Each week brings a new challenge to build from the debris, with strategy, wits and teamwork deciding which team’s creation out-performs the other—and whose hard work goes up in smoke.• Head Rush Kids participate as game show contestants playing for cash while riding thrill-inducing amusement park rides.• Dude, What Would Happen? This series stars three adventurous teens who ask and answer imaginative questions such as, “Dude, what would happen if you attached 350 helium balloons to a sumo wrestler?”• Bobb’e Says Starring Bobb’e J. Thompson (30 Rock, Human Giant), Bobb’e Says is a fast-paced, viral video clip show where other people’s painful mistakes become tools for Bobb’e as he dispenses sage wisdom to an unsuspecting public.

LIVE-ACTION AND ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIES• Ben 10: Alien Swarm An all-new, live-action movie based on the hit animated series• Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins The never-before-told story of how a mismatched quartet of teenagers first came together before becoming known as the Mystery Inc. gang. Directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, The Flintstones).• Firebreather Cartoon Network’s first original all-CG animation adventure, Peter Chung (Aeon Flux) is attached to direct.• Tiger’s Apprentice The best-selling young adult book by Lawrence Yep will be brought to life in a live-action movie. Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club) is attached to serve as executive producer/director

SCRIPTED LIVE-ACTION PILOTS• Unnatural History An action-packed series centered around Henry Griffin, a teenager with exceptional skills acquired through years of globe-trotting with his anthropologist parents. Henry faces his biggest challenge of all when he moves back to America to attend a high school stranger than any place he’s ever lived before. Created and written by Mike Werb (Face/Off, The Mask)

• Prepped A rebellious teen wakes up one morning to find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school that offers no escape. He forms a secret group to discover what they’re being trained for and how to escape. The pilot is executive-produced and written by Paul Dini (Batman Beyond).